The young Portsmouth striker has been attracting attention due to his impressive performances for the League Two side.
Conor Chaplin of Portsmouth celebrates after scoring their first goal
Until recent years, the prospect of Portsmouth’s most promising young star being snapped up by Bournemouth would have been unthinkable, yet according to The Sun, that is exactly what may happen in January.
The Cherries are one of a number of clubs thought to be monitoring the situation of 19-year-old striker Conor Chaplin, who has become an important part of the first team squad at Fratton Park as Pompey look to escape League Two at the fourth attempt.
But just who is the promising forward? Here are five facts about the prospect.
1) He stands just 5ft 6in tall
Chaplin is a diminutive striker who relies far more on pace than power. He plays on the shoulder of the last defender and is a clinical finisher when he gets in front of goal.
Do not go thinking that he cannot head the ball, however. One of his most notable goals came with a looping header against Wycombe after he had flicked the ball skilfully over the opposing defender’s head – think Gazza vs Scotland, but with a headed finish rather than a volley.
2) He has been at Portsmouth from a young age
Despite being born in Worthing – which is nearer to Brighton than Portsmouth – it was Pompey who snapped Chaplin up when he was just six years old.
He signed his first professional contract in 2014 and made his debut in the home defeat to Accrington Stanley in December of the same year.
Conor Chaplin celebrates after scoring the second goal for Portsmouth
3) He has already impressed against Championship opposition
Despite initially breaking into the team two seasons ago, it was during the last campaign that Chaplin really made his mark.
He scored the winner as Portsmouth knocked Derby out of the League Cup at the first round stage, and followed that up with another goal against second tier opposition when he netted against Reading in the following round.
4) He has a lengthy contract at Fratton Park
Now an established first-team player, Chaplin recently signed a contract which – in theory – keeps him a Pompey player until 2019.
He still faces stiff competition for his starting place on the south coast, with Portsmouth boasting an impressive array of attacking talent for a fourth tier outfit.
But despite the presence of Noel Hunt, Michael Smith and Curtis Main, Chaplin has become the club’s most feared attacker and has been attracting glances from other clubs for some time.
Portsmouth’s Conor Chaplin in action with Leyton Orient’s Tom Parkes
5) He has a penchant for the spectacular
As well as the aforementioned eye-catching strike against Wycombe, Chaplin also made headlines with a superb overhead kick at Blackpool which brought his side level in September.
With more than 50 League Two matches – and 14 goals – under his belt before even being out of his teens, it is no wonder that Chaplin is attracting interest. Whether he travels along the south coast to Bournemouth or stays to try and fire Pompey up the divisions, he is certainly one to watch.
Portsmouth fans, how good is Chaplin? Bournemouth fans, would he be a good signing? Leave your thoughts below.
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